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First HOLD home is a dream come true for Emma

A new housing scheme, which enables people with long term disabilities to purchase their own home, has seen its first sale complete in Shropshire.

Emma from Albrighton, who requires the use of a wheelchair and has various support needs, received the keys to her new home last month and is delighted with her purchase.

Emma was previously living with her parents and had been looking for a place of her own for over five years. Unfortunately the available properties either did not meet her needs or were not close enough to her parents, who wanted to continue their support once she had moved out.

Following Shropshire Council’s successful Department of Health bid of £2.4million last year the money was available to develop and progress the housing model called Home Ownership for people with Long-term Disabilities (HOLD). HOLD is a shared ownership scheme which enables people with disabilities to part buy a home of their own.

HOLD gave Emma the ability to choose where she wanted to live and who she would live with. For Emma this meant remaining in the town where she grew up, where she participates in activities and where her support network remains. It was also important that she had the space for a carer to overnight.

Working with the Council, a bungalow was purchased by The Wrekin Housing Trust using HCA and Housing and Technology funding and a share of the property was sold to Emma who used funding from Shropshire Council for her deposit and fees. Her mortgage was arranged by MySafeHome; an organisation that helps people with disabilities to buy their own home.

Emma says: “I’m so happy. It’s great to live independently in my own home. I’m also able to look into the possibility of having an assistance dog, called Lenny, who will be able to live with me.”

Now that Emma has the freedom to live independently her parents are also thrilled with the move: “At this stage of our lives, it is important that Emma gains her independence. We feel that she is safe in her own home which gives us peace of mind. We’re sure that Emma’s life will continue to blossom; HOLD is a dream come true.”

Councillor Lee Chapman, Shropshire Council’s portfolio holder for Housing, Health and Adult Social Care handed over the keys to Emma saying: “I am pleased to be able to support Emma to be able to live independently. Shropshire Council is committed to assisting its residents to remain in their own homes for as long as they are able and HOLD assists us to do that.”

Charlotte Hayward-Prince from The Wrekin Housing Trust's Development team said; “We’re delighted to see Emma settled in to her new home. We identified a bungalow, close to Emma’s parents, which could be adapted to suit her needs. The sale completed in September ready for the adaptations to take place. Having trialled this scheme previously, the Trust was keen to continue to help people with disabilities to get a foot on the property ladder and to live independently. Working with Shropshire Council, MySafeHome and the HCA the Trust are currently purchasing a further nine homes under HOLD.”